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STS-3 / Columbia Patch

STS-3 / Columbia Patch

Item PASTS003 Price $4.95

Continued testing of Space Shuttle systems for qualification for operational flight. Measurement of thermal response of the orbiter in various altitudes to the sun. Nine OSS-1 (Office of Space Scheice) experiments were flown. First student experiment was flown. Landing site was changed from Edwards Air Force Base to Northrop Strip, White Sands, NM, due to wet conditions at Edwards. The mission was extended one day due to high winds at Northrop. Landed March 30, after a flight lasting eight days, give minutes. Traveled 3.3 million miles in 129 orbits.

Patch description: This is the insignia for NASA's third flight of the space transportation system's (STS) Columbia, depicted in the middle of the blue sphere against the background of the sun. The Columbia's tail, nose, and top will each be pointed at the sun for long periods to test its thermal response to extremes of temperatures. The three prominent rays represent the third STS flight. The surnames of Astronauts Jack R. Lousma, commander, and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot, plank the vehicle, and the name Columbia appears at the bottom. The spacecraft's payload bay doors are open, and the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm with an experimental payload is extended as it will be on several occasions during the actual flight, scheduled for spring of this year. The art work was accomplished by space artist Robert C. McCall of Paradise Valley, AZ.

4" diameter embroidered patch.

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